A St Albans mum has got through to a national award final for her blog about a specific type of autism.

Steph Curtis is in the running for the Readers’ Choice category of the Britmums 2018 Brilliance in Blogging Awards for her site StephsTwoGirls.

She started writing the blog in 2010 when her then two-year-old daughter Sasha was diagnosed with a disorder called pathological demand avoidance (PDA).

This condition, which is on the autism spectrum, is categorised by an extreme avoidance of any commands - it is rooted in a need to always be in control.

Steph said: “Some lovely, amazing people must have nominated me, and it turns out that I am on the list of eight finalists for the Readers Choice category.

“Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, if you voted. This is such a fab way to start the weekend, and I appreciate it so much.”

Other nominees include Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays, Diary of a Fat Bottomed Girl, Inside Martyn’s Thoughts, Nomipalony, Slouching Towards Thatcham, So Happy In Town, and Sparkles & Stretchmarks.

Steph said: “When I started my blog, it was to try to help others understand Sasha a little better and help make her path through life a little smoother.

“That’s still a key aim of course, but I carry on writing to try to help others feel less alone, less judged, and to give them a boost to help them stand strong for their children.”

The blog was named for both Steph’s daughters because she knew the diagnosis would have an affect on the whole family.

She added: “Now comes the not-so-fun part for me... clearly I need to ask (not beg) for votes again to see if there’s any chance at all of me becoming the winner in that category.”

There is another blog also dedicated to PDA nominated in the Britmums 2018 Brilliance in Blogging Awards, but in the Fresh Voice category.

That blog is called PDA Parenting and is written by Danielle Jata-Hall.

The winners will be announced by a Twitter chat at 1pm on October 12.

To vote for Steph and her blog, visit www.britmums.com/vote-for-the-bibs2018-finalists/